What does "feud" mean?

1. (long-standing hostility) a bitter argument or fight between two groups that lasts for a very long time. 2. (professional wrestling) a fake or planned rivalry between two performers in professional wrestling. 3. (feudal estate) land given to a person by a lord in exchange for work or military service in the Middle Ages. 4. (to be in a fight) to be involved in a long and angry argument with someone.

How do you use "feud"?

Often used with the verbs 'start', 'settle', or 'end'. Intransitive verb; usually takes the preposition 'with' or 'over'.

feud

n. · v.

US //ˈfjud// UK //fjˈuːd// feud

1 long-standing hostility (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a bitter argument or fight between two groups that lasts for a very long time.

a state of long-standing mutual hostility, typically between families or clans, often involving retaliatory acts.

Example

The two families have been involved in a bitter feud over land for generations.

Example

The historical feud between the two clans was finally settled through a diplomatic marriage that united their commercial interests.

Usage

Often used with the verbs 'start', 'settle', or 'end'.
2 professional wrestling (n.)
C1 Advanced Informal Technical Sport

a fake or planned rivalry between two performers in professional wrestling.

a scripted rivalry between wrestlers used to create drama and interest for the audience.

Example

The fans loved the feud between the champion and his former partner.

Example

The promotion's ratings spiked during the six-month feud, culminating in a high-stakes match at the annual pay-per-view event.
- rivalry
- storyline

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3 feudal estate (n.)
C2 Proficiency Archaic Technical Law

land given to a person by a lord in exchange for work or military service in the Middle Ages.

an estate of land granted by a lord to a vassal on condition of homage and service.

Example

The knight was granted a feud by the king after the successful battle.

Example

Under the medieval legal system, the holder of the feud was required to provide forty days of military service annually to his superior lord.
- fief
- fiefdom
4 to be in a fight (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to be involved in a long and angry argument with someone.

to carry on a prolonged and bitter quarrel or conflict.

Example

The two famous singers have been feuding on social media for months.

Example

The two departments have been feuding over the budget allocation since the start of the fiscal year, stalling several key projects.

Usage

Intransitive verb; usually takes the preposition 'with' or 'over'.
- quarrel
- clash
- bicker

Etymology 1

Inherited from Northern Middle English fede, feide, from Old French faide, feide, fede, from Proto-West Germanic faihiþu (“hatred, enmity”) (corresponding to foe + -th), from Proto-Indo-European peyḱ- (“hostile”). Cognate to Old English fǣhþ, fǣhþu, fǣhþo (“hostility, enmity, violence, revenge, vendetta”), German Fehde, and Dutch vete (“feud”) (directly inherited from Proto-West Germanic) alongside Danish fejde (“feud, enmity, hostility, war”) and Swedish fejd (“feud, controversy, quarrel, strife”) (borrowed from Middle Low German).

Etymology 2

From Medieval Latin feudum. Doublet of fee, fief, and feoff.